Patient{40 s couch for radiological radiation

ABSTRACT

A table for supporting a patient during radiological treatment, the table having first and second surfaces longitudinally spaced apart defining between them a transverse gap, and a beam connecting and supporting the second surface with the first surface, the beam being movable between different transverse positions in the gap area to provide unimpeded radiation.

United States Patent Zaalberg [451 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] PATIENT'S COUCHFOR [56] References Cited RADIOLOGICAL RADIATION UMTED STATES PATENTS[721 Invent: balms Emmasingel Eindhmen' 3 428 307 2/1969 Hunter et al...2so/s4 x Netherlands 3,466,439 9/1969 Setala ..250/54 [73] Assignee:U.S. Philips Corporation, New York, NY. [22] Filed; July 14 1969 PrimaryExaminer-James W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-A. L. Birch [21] APPINO':841336 AttorneyFrank R. Trifari [30] Foreign Application Priority Data[57] ABSTRACT July 18, 1968 Netherlands ..68 I01 32 A table f rsupporting a patient during radiological treatment, the table havingfirst and second surfaces longitudinally U-S- 250/54, paced definingbetween them a transveme gap and a 2; beam connecting and supporting thesecond surface with the 1 le o are 269/322, first surface, the beambeing movable between different mum verse positions in the gap area toprovide unimpeded radiation.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMMBIQIZ v 3.652.851

sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. WILLEM ZAALBERG BY M 16- AGENT PATENTED 2 m2 3,652.851

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

WILLEM ZAALBERG AGET PATIENT'S COUCH FOR RADIOLOGICAL RADIATION Inradiological treatment of patients with X-rays or gammarays it is commonpractice to vary the direction of the beam striking a body part to betreated, in order to concentrate the dosage of radiation at a givenplace in the body, whereas ambient tissue is affected to a lesserextent. A known device for carrying out the radiation in this way is therotation-therapy apparatus comprising a radiation source adapted to movealong the circumference of a circle, the beam of rays being invariablyorientated towards the center of the circle. The radiation source may bemoved continuously along the circumference of the circle, but theradiation is often directed in different ways while the source standsstill during radiation. A further possibility resides in thedisplacement of the radiation source with respect to the plane ofradiation at right angles to the rotary axis on either side over a givendistance, while by turning the source, the beam remains directed to thepoint of intersection of the rotary axis and said plane.

By means of the couch the patient to be treated is moved in the reach ofthe radiation source (circular or cylindrical plane). In order toprovide sufficient space for the movement of the radiation source, thecouch top is supported at one end by a supporting column, whereas theother end extends in selfsupporting fashion in the space of irradiation.The required rigidity is obtained by arranging the table top on alongitudinal girder, for example, a hollow beam of semi-ellipticalsection with a flat top surface. The quantity of material thus movedinto the radiation beam leads to attenuation of the radiation byabsorption when the beam is orientated so that the rays have topenetrate through the table before reaching the region of the body to beirradiated.

There is known a patients couch having coverable openings in the tabletop structure so that attenuation of the radiation in given directionsis avoided. A greater freedom in selecting the disposition of theradiation source is provided by a further known couch whose bearing topis divided by a void into two bearing surfaces which are separated fromeach other and in the longitudinal direction of the couch are in linewith each other, the connection between the bearing surface beingestablished by a stationary supporting beam. Due to its fixed positionthis supporting beam may be a source of trouble in some cases, whenradiating from below, for treating regions in the vicinity of thevertebral column, so that the patient has to be displaced laterally overthe couch top. This disadvantage is reduced in a further known couch inwhich the portions of the bearing top are interconnected by movablesupporting beams, which are provided with orthogonal side arms with stubshafts, which are rotatably joumaled in bushed fixed to the bottom sidesof the bearing surfaces. By turning the supporting beams around the stubshafts in the bushings, the place and the transverse size of the freespace between the supporting beams can be changed so that the rays canpass unhindered. Nevertheless a quite real restriction of the spaceangle in which the source for upward radiation can be arranged is notobviated in this way.

The present invention has for its object to obviate this restriction asfar as possible. In the new patients couch the bearing top consists oftwo supporting surfaces separated from each other by an intermediatespace and interconnected by a supporting, beam having side arms at bothends; to these arms stub shafts are secured which extend parallel to thesupporting beams, and are journaled in bearing cradles fastened to thesupporting surfaces. A mechanical coupling is provided between the twosupporting surfaces as well as a shaft adapted (i) to turn in thesupporting beam and (ii) to transfer the angle of rotation of thesupporting beam relative to one supporting face in the opposite sense tothe other supporting surface.

An appropriate mechanical coupling comprises semicircular toothed rimsfastened to the two supporting surfaces, the

teeth being in mesh with pinions, which are rigidly connected rateddiscs fastened to the supporting surfaces. Other known energytransmission gears, for example, comprising ropes or steel belts, mayalso be employed.

The drawing illustrates particularities of a patients couch inaccordance with the invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofsuch a couch,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of a mechanical coupling comprising meshingteeth,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the couch,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view thereof,

FIG. 5 is and end view thereof, and

FIG. 6 shows a variant of the mechanical coupling.

The patients couch of FIG. 1 comprises a supporting column 1, to whichone supporting surface of the couch top is secured, which is formed bythe supporting surfaces 2 and 3. The two supporting faces are separatedfrom each other by a clearance space 4 and interconnected by asupporting beam 5, provided at each end with a transverse arm 6 and 7respectively, which are rotatably joumaled by means of stub shafts to bedescribed hereinafter in bearing bushings fastened to the supportingsurfaces.

The supporting surfaces 2 and 3 are provided with semicircular toothedsegments 8 and 9 respectively (FIG. 2). The teeth of the segments are inmesh with the pinions 10 and 11, which are each fastened to one end of acommon shaft 12. The shaft 12 is rotatably joumaled in a bore in thesupporting beam 5 so that the pinions 10 and 1 l are rotatable in commonand not rotatable separately. The engagement between the teeth of thepinions and the segments renders the supporting beam 5 rotatable aboutthe stub shafts 13 and 14, while the mechanical coupling prevents adisplacement of the supporting surface 3 with respect to the supportingsurface 2 held by the supporting column 1.

The supporting beam 5 with the two side arms 6 and 7 and the stub shaftsl3 and 14 secured thereto provides the required rigidity for ,theconnection of the self-supporting surface 3 with the supported surface Zbecause the stub shaft 13 beneath the supporting surface 2 is held in abushing 15 in the circular toothed segment 8 and in a second bushing 16in a bearing block 17 secured to the supporting surface 3, whereasbeneath the supported surface 2 in the circular toothed segment 9 and ina bearing block 18 secured to said surface bearing bushings l9 and 20are provided for holding the other stub shaft 14. (FIGS. 3, 4, 5). Thesupporting beam 5 is illustrated in these Figures in a horizontalposition on one side, but by turning it about the stub shafts 13-14through an angle of it can be moved into the horizontal position on theother side, while the beam can occupy any intennediate position, whilethe pinions 10-11 roll along the toothed segments 8-9 so that theyprevent fatigue of the self-supporting surface 3. The supportingsurfaces 2 and 3 are shown in the simplest form, which does not mean toexclude other known form for increasing the bearing capacity.

Another device corresponding to the desired mechanical couplingcomprises chains replacing the toothed rims and providing a less ruggedconstruction of relatively lower weight (FIG. 6). For the sake ofclarity the supporting surfaces are not shown in this Figure; they aresupposed to be provided with bearing cradles 21 bolted thereto andcomprising bushings 22. On one side the cradles serve for journaling astub shaft 13, fastened to one of the side arms 7 of the supporting beam5 and on the other side the cradles serve for journaling the second stubshaft 14, connected with the other side arm 6 of the supporting beam 5.The two bearing cradles, arranged at a short distance from the sidearms, have rigidly connected with them a circular guide disc 23 and ashaft 12 is taken through the supporting beam 5 and is provided at eachend with a chain sprocket 24. An endless chain 25 is taken along each ofthe guide discs 23 and each of the chain sprockets 24, the chain beingsecured against displacement around the guide discs by a safety pin 26,fastened to the bearing cradles and penetrating in a link of the chains.Consequently a turn of the supporting beam 5 about the two stub shaftsdoes not affect the relative positions of the supporting surfaces withwhich the cradles are connected.

For closing the opening 4 between the two supporting surfaces 2 and 3the self-supporting surface 3 may be provided with a displaceable cover27 (FIG. 1).

What is claimed is:

l. A patients couch for radiological treatment comprising apatient-supporting surface formed by two sections disposed inlongitudinally spaced relationship, thus defining between them atransverse gap of separation, a junction unit which connects the twosections and is formed by a beam disposed longitudinally in said gap, anarm extending laterally from each end of the beam, from each arm a stubshaft extending generally parallel to and spaced from the beam axis, anda cradle secured to each of said sections, each cradle includingbearings for receiving and supporting one of said stub shafts, wherebythe beam is pivotable about said shafts and thus movable transversely inthe gap, and means for maintaining said sections in a co-planerrelationship, independent of the adjustable position of the beam.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a mainshaft rotatably disposed in said beam, each end of the shaft engagingone of said sections.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first section has agenerally fixed orientation, and rotation of said means in one directionabout the stub shaft engaging said first section, cause equal rotationof the second section in the opposite direction about the other stubshaft, whereby the second section is maintained coplaner with the firstsection.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each cradle comprises asemicircular element with teeth on the curved periphery, and said mainshaft has a pinion on each end engaging the teeth of one of said cradleelements.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each cradle comprises anonrotatable sprocket, and said main shaft has a sprocket on each end,and the apparatus further comprises a chain engaging each cradlesprocket and one main shaft sprocket.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a coverpositionable to bridge the gap between said spaced sections.

7. A patients couch for radiological treatment comprising a stand, afirst patient-supporting section fixedly secured to the stand, a secondpatient-supporting section longitudinally spaced from the first sectiondefining a transverse gap therebetween, a junction unit connecting thetwo sections, the unit including first and second stub shafts rotatablyengaged to the first and second sections respectively, and a beamextending between and connecting the stub shafts, whereby the junctionunit is cantilever-supported by the first section and the second sectionis cantilever-supported by the junction unit, the beam being pivotableabout said stub shafts and thus movable transversely in the gap.

1. A patient''s couch for radiological treatment comprising apatient-supporting surface formed by two sections disposed inlongitudinally spaced relationship, thus defining between them atransverse gap of separation, a junction unit which connects the twosections and is formed by a beam disposed longitudinally in said gap, anarm extending laterally from each end of the beam, from each arm a stubshaft extending generally parallel to and spaced from the beam axis, anda cradle secured to each of said sections, each cradle includingbearings for receiving and supporting one of said stub shafts, wherebythe beam is pivotable about said shafts and thus movable transversely inthe gap, and means for maintaining said sections in a co-planerrelationship, independent of the adjustable position of the beam. 2.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a main shaftrotatably disposed in said beam, each end of the shaft engaging one ofsaid sections.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the firstsection has a generally fixed orientation, and rotation of said means inone direction about the stub shaft engaging said first section, causeequal rotation of the second section in the opposite direction about theother stub shaft, whereby the second section is maintained co-planerwith the first section.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein eachcradle comprises a semicircular element with teeth on the curvedperiphery, and said main shaft has a pinion on each end engaging theteeth of one of said cradle elements.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2wherein each cradle comprises a nonrotatable sprocket, and said mainshaft has a sprocket on each end, and the apparatus further comprises achain engaging each cradle sprocket and one main shaft sprocket. 6.Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a cover positionableto bridge the gap between said spaced sections.
 7. A patient''s couchfor radiological treatment comprising a stand, a firstpatient-supporting section fixedly secured to the stand, a secondpatient-supporting section longitudinally spaced from the first sectiondefining a transverse gap therebetween, a junction unit connecting thetwo sections, the unit including first and second stub shafTs rotatablyengaged to the first and second sections respectively, and a beamextending between and connecting the stub shafts, whereby the junctionunit is cantilever-supported by the first section and the second sectionis cantilever-supported by the junction unit, the beam being pivotableabout said stub shafts and thus movable transversely in the gap.